The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-03
Meeting of Congress.

The first session of the Fiftieth Congress
convenes on Monday next, Many Senators
and Representatives have been in Wash
ington for week or two, and by tonight
there will be few absentees.
A caucus of the Democratic Senators
was held yesterday morning, and commit
tees were appointed to confer with like
committees from the Republican side upon
organization and other matters necessary
at the opening of new session. The Re-
publican caucus will be held this morning.
Before the new Senators are sworn in the
two political parties will be evenly balanced,
each side having twenty-five. When the
Senate is fully organized there will be two
Republican majority, counting Riddleber-
ger, of Virginia, who is quite independent
and will vote with either side as his views
dictate, regardless of party afiliation.
In the House the Democrats have good
working majority, and will easily control
The question of presiding officer is being
discussed. Until recently no other name
had been mentioned for Speaker except
Carlisle's. His great ability, fairness and
impartiality will no doubt result in unan-
imous denomination by the Democratic
caucus, but there are those who want him
on the floor, where they say his leadership
is needed. The chief issue at this session,
which will likely extend until the middle
Of June, will be revenue reform and re-
duction of the treasury surplus. As chair
man of the Ways and Means Committee
Mr.. Carlisles services would be invaluable.
No other man in the House would be so
able, perhaps, to cope with the protection
advocates.
A tariff revision seems to be conceded.
The Democratic party is pledged to a re-
duction of the useless taxation, which has
filled the treasury to overlooking annually
for years, and has begotten wasteful expen-
diture and extravaganza, The Republican
party is also pledged to reduction, but
its leaders in Congress have discarded theiI
pledges and strenuously opposed every
measure proposed by the Democratic side
Public sentiment, however, is now so pro
nounced, that it is thought measure can
be agreed upon and passed.
The Democratic side has generally stood
out for an enlargement of the free list aud
the removal of all tax upon necessities
Mr. Randall, a protection Democrat, has
been able, with the aid of few other pro
lection Democrats and the solid Republican
vote, to defeat any measures of that sort
He and they would make but little modi
Acation in the tariff, but would stop the
overflow to the treasury by abplishing oil
greatly reducing internal taXatiOp. The
internal revenue is raised almost wholly
from whiskey and tobacco. These are moi
necessities of life, and those people who
object to the tax upon them can avoid pay
ment by abstaining from their use. Sugar,
coffee, tea, salt, drugs, and the like go into
daily use in every household, and the tax
upon them is onerous and useless, People
must have them, and 1t Is robbery to tax
them while the money is not necessary for
the support of government,
Senator German, however, in an inter
view, has expressed the belief, or rather
confidently predicts, that there will be
framed bill to accomplish revenue reform,
and says the measure will provide for re-
duction in customs duties, and also for Q
slight reduction in the internal revenue tax